Texas Tesla Factory Fined For Safety Lapses That Led To Worker Death

The Tesla gigafactory in Austin, Texas, has been fined after OSHA concluded a worker's death was due to "safety lapses."

According to KUT News, Electrician Victor Joe Gomez Sr. died on August 1st, 2024, after inspecting panels that should have been powered off.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued three "serious" citations to the factory at $16,550 each, for a total of $50,000.  For perspective, the lowest priced Tesla vehicle is $42,490, just a few thousand less than the fine.

[OSHA] found that Tesla did not provide proper protective equipment and allowed employees to work too closely to electric power circuits without warning.

U.S. Rep. Greg Casar who represents Texas’s 35th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, demanded the federal government release more details about Gomez's death.

Read More: Texas-Based Teslas Being Egged, Cheesed & Otherwise Vandalized

Details from the OSHA report indicate that Gomez's death was not an isolated event and that employees had been exposed to the electrified panels,  "without prior hazard analysis, warning signs, and communication of safe work procedures."

U.S. Rep. Casar has vowed to hold the factory accountable for his constituents' death, because the incident "should not be treated any differently because the CEO he died working for happens to be rich and powerful."

Last year, the gigafactory was fined $7,000 for exposing workers to chemicals.

Telsa is owned by Elon Musk, the richest man in the world. One Redditor explained how tiny the fine is compared to his wealth:

A slap on the wrist implies they felt something.

50K is 0.000,000,06 of Tesla's current market capitalization.

As of today Elmo is worth 342.8 billion. This fine represents 0.000,000,15 of his net worth.

Commas added because so many zeros.

This isn't even a quick, stern, glance in his general direction..

I hope that despite the minuscule fine, real changes are made to ensure the safety of other factory workers in Tesla's facilities.